The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-02-02

that has been noted is 10 the case of
, Rogers. Peet & Co., the New York
C others. WHO perhaps do largo bust
ness in that line than any other firm in
America. A year ago they called their
employees, three hundred in mum Der,
ogether. and proposed to take all into
.artn, rship with the prJpristors, the
! latter to receive SIX per cent. ihtere
OH the capital Invested in the business,
and lie profits over that percentage TO
be divided among the employees. The
arrangeme.t was satisfactory ali
around, and everybody went to
work with will. Fair wages
were paid. Ten days ago, the
accounts for the year having been
made up and the balances struck, the
employees were again called together
receive heir dividend. Like eve y
other business in the country, that oi
Rogers, Peet d Co. suffered falling of
last year, but the books showed that
after deducting 6 per cent. for the cap
Ital invested, there remained enough OF
profit to pay every employee 81 per
cent. on his salary. The arrangement
is to be continued another year. Al
the meeting referrt d to Hon. AlgernOn
8. Sullivan was present by invita-
ton. and after hearing the statement
read delivered little speech, which can
be studied with profit by those inter
ested IN the great problem of the rela
tons of labor aud Capital. A portion
of the address is here reproduc d:
OF all the public assemblies in New
York this winter this is the most in crest
ing IT is fact that will be noticed by the
preacher and the eduor. by the student of
political problems, by the plilauthropist,
by the fiiends, hope, by the foes of social
order. A firm of our great manufacturers
and merchants by one act present to their
fellow citizens more than whole volume
OF theory about the relations between
capital and labor 1t is not the amount of
monev that is transferred at this NEE ing |
that attracs ores interest. True, that is
subStaH tia land il Keeps the occasion within |
the scope of business. But / am happy to |
be wit ess here, because tonight a. all |
established and enduring facI, Rogers |
ciples which introduce the sen iment aud |
sympathies of man wit his fellows as one |
Of the factors in business m Engagement.
Look at their plan and then Interpret it |
What meaning hath il? Eni- |
ploying several hundred men, women and |
boys, they have said: Henceforth, IN addi |
ton to good wages, there shall De paid you !
pro rata, a share of any net profits made III |
our business. discover several feature in |
tn which arouse my enthusiastic approval: |
First The employers have changed the |
relations with the employees. They do not
buy labor. Z hey recognize their employees |
as C -laborerS with themselves.
Sec0Rd-That change implies a personal |
rec 'gnitiOn of the employee He is now
,Old that he has become member of labor
3ommunitv in which each man is trustee
fDr every other member. His employer be-
comes his partner also.
Thtrd-ThiS plan has another still greater
merit. 1t is message of sympathy and
kindness to the employees. 1t is not based
solely upon self-interest, as where man is
ipurring for gain contingent upon the doing
If others 1t is made system embracing
he entire body upon a system OF equality
The sentiment of he family bond is infused
among all the force. They are educated to |
he habit of mutual helpfulness.
F0urtil-The workman, under the influence |
)f these new circumstances, has his mind
enlarged beyond his mere routine duties.
He thinks of the relation of his work to the
business CT the whole.
Ftfth-This establishment sends out to the
aboring man everywhere a message of good |
'heer and to the employer a friendly
Exam. le.